STEVENS POINT — The Onalaska High School girls golf team didn’t allow the fact that Tomah won every conference meet played this season bother it while teeing up for a sectional competition on Monday.
The Hilltoppers placed second to the Timberwolves in all of those MVC meets but put together a big performance at the right time on to beat Tomah and earn a spot in the upcoming WIAA Division 1 state tournament.
Onalaska shot a 357 and didn’t beat first-place Hudson (354) but did beat the third-place Timberwolves (358) by one stroke in the Stevens Point Sectional to claim the opportunity to play in the state tournament at University Ridge in Madison on Oct. 13-14.
The top two teams and top three players not on those teams qualified for the state tournament, and the Hilltoppers will make their first appearance — and 13th in program history — as a team since 2018.
Senior Rickie Tillotson and junior Finley Schams led Onalaska with matching rounds of 13-over-par 85 at the Wisconsin River Golf Course. Schams parred five holes during a 5-over 41 on the back nine, and Tillotson recorded an important birdie at No. 16 and shot a 5-over 42 on the front nine as they finished in as part of a four-way tie for fourth place individually.
Tomah senior Karma Hasselberger and Hudson sophomore Ava Swavely tied for the low round of the day at 80.
Junior Beckah Moore added an 88 and senior Sydney Kranig a 99 to round out Onalaska’s scores.
Central/Logan senior Elena Wagner also qualified for the sectional and finished with a 109 that out her in a two-way tie for 41st place.
This story will be updated.
